What happened
On 26 August 2013, an EV-97 TeamEurostar UK, registration G-CGZF, was conducting a training flight at Membury Airfield, Berkshire. The flight was part of a Private Pilot’s Licence syllabus, specifically focusing on takeoff procedures. The crew consisted of one instructor and one student pilot.
During the fifth assisted takeoff of the session, the aircraft was accelerating under full power. While the instructor was monitoring the flight and providing assistance, the aircraft required some right rudder pressure to maintain a straight track. As the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 30-35 mph, the student pilot abruptly applied heavy pressure to the left rudder pedal and became unresponsive.
Despite the instructor shouting to take control, the student's input remained difficult to counteract, only allowing the instructor to center the rudder. The student then reduced the throttle. Although the instructor attempted to apply full power to continue the takeoff, the student's actions caused the aircraft to veer left off the runway and come to a stop in a nearby ploughed field. The incident resulted in no injuries to the crew or passengers, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, nose landing gear, and fuselage.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot and examined the circumstances surrounding the student's sudden loss of control. The investigation established that the student pilot experienced some hearing difficulties during the event, though they could not explain the sudden, erroneous rudder input. The instructor noted that while the student had successfully completed previous takeoffs, the instructor may have been overconfident in the student's proficiency.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the sudden and incorrect application of left rudder pedal by the student pilot.
- The instructor was unable to effectively regain control because the student's physical input was too forceful and the student failed to respond to verbal commands.
- The student's subsequent reduction of throttle prevented the aircraft from maintaining enough airspeed to fly away.
- The instructor's assessment of the student's ability may have been overly optimistic due to the student's recent successful maneuvers.